RUTH MANNINO: Chance Sighting

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

It was an ordinary weekday for the two retirees. He wanted to go to the shore; she wanted to catch up on her writing. She gave in.

A horn bellowed from the speakers somewhere above. They looked oceanward as the whale came up for air.

She had her next story.

Ruth Mannino is a retired math teacher, tutor, and business analyst, who has always loved to write. Meditation and mindfulness being a part of her everyday life, in 2020, she published Thursday Mornings: Breathe, Stretch, Listen, Love, a series of interviews she conducted with senior members of her chair yoga class. She has just discovered flash fiction and finds it motivating!

LISA MARIE LOPEZ: Mend

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , , , ,

Grandma believes in traditions: homemade pie crust, Sunday morning prayer, peanuts at the ballgame. She also believes comfort food can mend anything.

Shortly after her team loses in the World Series, we wait for the clatter of silver tablespoons and egg-beaters and the aroma of cake batter to set in.

Lisa Marie resides in Northern California. She’s had stories published in Blink-Ink and The Ocotillo Review, among others.

EDDIE D MOORE: The Annulling

Amusing, Artistic, Submissions, , ,

After a year of combing through my memories on social media, I’ve finally deleted every photo, check-in, and tag with my ex. Public records and memories are all that’s left of our relationship.

Coincidentally, there was a devastating fire at the courthouse last night.

Now only those who remember remain.

When Eddie D. Moore isn’t playing with his grandchildren, he is driving and visiting strange new worlds via audiobooks, or he is lost in his imagination writing his own tales. Pick up a copy of Poe-ish Tales Forevermore today! You’ll be glad you did… if you can sleep tonight.

ANGELA ACOSTA: Manufactured Moonlight

Adventure, Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

What was once an uninhabited rock blazed into light.

Looking up from Earth, children wished upon its neon cities and dreamed of winter vacations to Mare Imbrium, now outfitted with low gravity ski slopes.

After illuminating the moon, we will sally forth into the darkness beyond our outer solar system.

Angela Acosta is a PhD Candidate in Iberian Studies at The Ohio State University. Her work has appeared in ¿Qué Pasa, Ohio State?, Rainy Day Literary Magazine, and mOthertongue Literary Journal.

HEIDI BELTRAN: Hold My Hand

Amusing, Submissions, , ,

The market was crowded, lot of noises, people chatting out loud.

I didn’t want to lose you so I grabbed your hand.

Felt so different, so distant. I thought: what could I possibly have done wrong?

I had to stop, ask you why, then I realized…

it wasn’t your hand.

Heidi Beltran lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has seen the evidence of God’s love daily throughout life.

LINDA MOON: Suddenly, we smile again

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

I run so fast I might fall and ruin my dress. My heart is about to explode! You wait for me on the front porch. I scream your name. I hug you. I tell you we won 500 dollars at the lottery: we can pay rent, buy groceries this month.

Linda Moon really loves flash fiction! She writes every day and reads short stories collections while working in (mostly sustainable) fashion collections in Italy.

ERIN GILMORE: Night 432

Artistic, Submissions,

It’s late. (No, it’s early.)

Merwin jumps up, pads silently beside me, and collapses into cat loaf position.

(Is that a purr or a roar?)

The clock ticks, too loudly. (Why do I still have a clock?)

I twirl the sheet into roses under my fingers and dream of sleep.

Erin Gilmore is an artist and editor living in Los Angeles.

KATHERINE GLEASON: Storm’s Wake

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, , ,

Pools of water glisten where tidy lawns once grew. Streams gurgle and rush along the roads. With the kids gathered close, we lean from windows and perch on roofs. The more fortunate propel themselves around town in dinghies. They hail us. “Neighbor,” they call to those they once ignored. “Friend!”

Katherine Gleason’s stories have appeared in journals such as Cheap Pop, Derelict Lit, Every Day Fiction, Gone Lawn, Hobart, Juked, Jellyfish Review, and Menacing Hedge. Her play “The Toe Incident” won the Christopher Hewitt Award for Drama in 2020.

MARIE LITTLE: They all Take her Photo in the Lounge

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, , ,

They take so many photos. Hold it up, down, wave it about! Nancy! Over here! Smile! A purple balloon, shiny as a sixpence, more beautiful than she has ever seen. She holds tight onto its string and the decades float away. She is six. She is happy. There is cake.

Marie writes poetry and flash fiction and plays with writing prompts on Twitter at @jamsaucer.

EDWARD MCINNIS: 98

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

My friend, in his early 70’s, was out and about doing errands during the most recent brutal heat wave. Dying from the heat, he stopped at Dunkin’ to get an iced tea. He said to the teenaged server, “It’s going to be 98 today.”

“Oh!” she said brightly. “Happy birthday!”

Edward Mcinnis wrote this story.